be all things to all men/people

be all things to all men

To be liked or appreciated by everyone (usually after overt efforts to please them). The phrase likely originated in the Bible. I know you want your students to like you, but you have to discipline them when they misbehave. You can't be all things to all men. I don't trust that candidate—he is trying to be all things to all men and still hasn't committed to a clear course of action. The sooner you learn that you can't be all things to all men, the better. Then, you are free to live the life you want, without worrying about what other people think.

See also: all, men, thing, to

be all things to all people

To be liked or appreciated by everyone, usually through overt efforts to please them. I know you want your students to like you, but you have to discipline them when they misbehave. You can't be all things to all people. I don't trust that candidate—he is trying to be all things to all people and still hasn't committed to a clear course of action. The sooner you learn that you can't be all things to all people, the better. Then, you are free to live the life you want, without worrying about what other people think.

See also: all, people, thing, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be all things to all men

If someone or something is trying to be all things to all men, they are trying to please everyone, and this is impossible. The film tries to be all things to all men — comedy, romance, fantasy, and satire. Note: You can also say that someone tries to be all things to all people. I realised I had a big problem. I wanted to be all things to all people. Note: This expression is used to show disapproval.

See also: all, men, thing, to

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

be all things to all men (or people)

1 please everyone, typically by regularly altering your behaviour or opinions in order to conform to those of others. 2 be able to be interpreted or used differently by different people to their own satisfaction.

This expression probably originated in reference to 1 Corinthians 9:22: ‘I am made all things to all men’.

See also: all, men, thing, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

be all ˌthings to all ˈmen/ˈpeople

(saying) change the way you behave or what you say to try to please the people you are with: The President’s attempts to be all things to all men had disastrous consequences.

See also: all, men, people, thing, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017